Brussels, 13/07/2001 (Agence Europe) - The Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) at the Council of Europe has issued a public statement on the Republic of Chechnya. The CPT denounces the lack of goodwill shown by Russia in opening inquiries into cases of inhumane treatment of prisoners during the conflict, mainly in Chernokozovo. According to information gathered by the CPT delegation in 2000, a considerable number of persons deprived of their freedom were tortured by members of the armed forces or by Russian forces of law and order. Paradoxically, the Russian authorities deny the very existence of the place of detention which it had set up in Chernokozovo. The same authorities also refused to provide, in June, information requested by the CPT. They had questioned the competence of the Committee on such issues. In its public declaration, the Committee notes that the action by the Russian authorities are as many refusals to cooperate with the CPT. In 11 years of existence, the CPT has used this procedure only three times.